Tucson - Faith Family, New Friends and Serving UIM Aviations

Hmmm, Tucson, WHO KNEW????....It is surrounded by amazing beautiful mountains!  For some reason, I had in my head that Arizona was all desert and never in a million years did I equate desert with mountains.  Yes, you are right...I never really paid that much attention in geography in school, nor was I one to even think I would travel, so, outside of Florida was never a real interest to me...OH HOW WRONG I WAS!!!!  

We have had a very busy and crazy few weeks here in Tucson, Phoenix and now Tucson again.  More about that later, let's just focus on our first few weeks in Tucson.

From the get go, we knew we were coming out here to Sahaurita/Green Valley to visit some of the most precious members of our faith family back home, the Dunn's.  They moved out to be with their family a year before we left for our trip.  So it really was a no brainer to come for a visit while we were on our trip.  

View from their front porch!

We arrived to our precious Jaymane waving from her swing on her front porch, oh how good it was to see her sweet smile and to be wrapped in one of her big ole hugs.  To say the least, our time was so special, just being together.  Lots of food, lots of laughter and a whole lot of game play going on.  And yes, faith family back home...THEY STILL CHEAT!!!  LOL We were able to teach them our new favorite game, Rummikub and they are picking up that one really well too.

They took us all over Tucson showing us some of the most beautiful sights, mountains and tourist attractions.  God truly did some amazing handiwork out here, I can see why they love it, and did I mention no humidity :) I now understand what all that means too!  lol

We were able to stay a week with the Dunn's before our week began out at the hanger.  
The extra special icing on the top of our visit was being able to serve along side of their son, Kevin, at UIM Avaiation.  What and Who is UIM Aviation? Their purpose is developing and reproducing, culturally-relevant churches among Native American and Hispanics and Hispanics in Canada, the US and Mexico. Please take a minute and click on this link UIM Aviation to go directly to their website to read more about them or find them at this  Facebook link .  We pray you will join with us as we pray for their ministry as they reach others for the Kingdom.  They are always looking for more donors and always for prayer warriors.  Take the time to check them out!

So, quickly upon arrival we again felt like we were with family.  Personally, I thought it was absolutely amazing getting to stay at an airport, right outside of a hanger.  Something totally new for us - getting to see the airplanes take off at night was so beautiful.  Just the lights of the runway were something out of a movie.  

When we first arrived we really wondered what we could actully do to help them, I don't think I need to remind y'all that we are NOT pilots and have ZERO aviation anything in our background, but isn't God so good at directing our paths...We met with Tony our boss for the next week who pulled out a list, a two page list of things they needed done around the hanger!  YIKES (from a girls standpoint) there was a whole lot of words on there that I had no idea what meant, but we took the list home that night to mark the things we thought we could handle. Momma and I took one sheet - Daddy took the other - we marked items and then traded and marked items on the second sheet.  To say the least, Daddy was going to be busy...and praise God, Momma and I found things on the list we could do too!

So we met in the morning to report for duty ....PAINT was on our TO DO LIST and well Daddy found a whole bunch of boy jobs he could do, but he focused on several of the CARPENTRY items that needed work - Momma and I were quickly directed to all of the tables/ladders/carts or should I say, anything with wheels - they were to be painted blue. 

OK, we had our orders...then we were told that Big Tex needed a paint job as well.  Who or what is Big Tex you ask????  Oh it's their 1000 ft trailer, ok so maybe it was more like a 24' trailer, but when you start painting it, everything changes!!!  The before and afters on Big Tex are remarkable!  

Tony directed Daddy and well, he took off, doing all kinds of projects.  I think he really really enjoyed being there with fellow MEN folk to chat it up with, poor guy, it must get really old being stuck with the two of us all the time.  So, I think Daddy truly chatted as much as he worked while we were there, and I KNOW he really did enjoy himself, I think he even might have whistled while he worked! :)

None the less, we got lots painted and lots accomplished.  We loved being with the missionaries there and learning what all they do.  So much of this trip I find myself saying and thinking how great it is to be in a faith family that reaches all over this world serving a God that touches lives in ever corner of this world.  We can't quit now, there are so many more to be reached for the gospel's sake.  

On one of the last days there, Kevin came in and asked if we would like to go on a short little flight over the copper mines as a Thank You....HA - HOW AWESOME WAS THAT?  I think for the most part I again found myself awe struck by God and His creation with such beauty of the landscape from the air.  I now totally understand how people that fly have the passion to the core, the view is amazing from up there.

One of the nights while we were at the hanger, Tony took us out to Gates Pass to see the sunset, UMMM BEAUTY OVERLOAD for sure.  We climbed up the side of one of the mountains to see the sunset one direction and when you turned the other direction, you could see the moon rising.  The day ending and night beginning all at one moment and the mountains surrounding it all.  Just beautiful! 

At the end of our stay with UIM we planned to go to Ray Campground which was right at the foot of the mountains for Gates Pass for the last few days in Tucson.  As our Thank You to UIM we invited the group from the Tucson location out to our campsite for a picnic.  So, we were able to host about 15 to our place for a hot dog bar picnic then to go to Gates Pass for our farwell to Tucson sunset.

All in all, what a great time we had, loving on old friends, new friends and serving our God with all of them.

God never ceases to amaze me on His plans, His connections and His purposes.  We may not always know what God has around the corner for us, but I am confident that He knows what's going on with us.  I trust Him in EVERY detail of my life.

"... He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.  At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.  The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.  You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth ...  May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!  I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.  May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord..."  Psalm 104:5-9, 31-34

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

OUR TIME WITH THE DUNN'S

Nothing like a Ron Dunn
breakfast burrito

OUR TIME WITH UIM AVIATIONS

Meet ... Big Tex...BEFORE

Tony, not only a great boss but he
knows so much about the area!

Big Tex...AFTER :)

Nope - Not gonna happen Gnomeo

Loving God and loving others ~

Kristi

Bob and Carol

Galatians 6:9-10

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